Dr. Jenn, as she is known to her patients has been in practice since 2004 as a Naturopathic Doctor and Registered Dietitian.Her family-centered practice welcomes patients of all ages, and she especially enjoys working with women in all phases of their reproductive life, and children of all ages.With a strong emphasis on diet and nutrition, she guides her patients to their best health.She also enjoys writing about health and her blog can be found at Pillars of Health

Eczema (aka Atopic Dermatitis) is very common, and it frequently first pops up infancy affecting anywhere from 5-20% of children. I’ve seen many babies, some as young as 3-4 weeks with whole body eczema. By the time I see them, Mom and Dad have often already tried everything – new detergent, more bathing, less bathing and every over the counter cream money can buy. And, understandably they are hesitant to rely on hydrocortisone cream.

What Causes Eczema

We know that eczema tends to run in families, and that having a family member with either eczema, asthma or allergies increases the risk. (See our article “Allergies, asthma and eczema: The Th1/Th2 story for more information.) There area also some interesting environmental associations, including mother’s age and exposure to pollution.

But, we also know that certain foods and chemicals can trigger eczema, or make it worse in susceptible children. Watch for irritating ingredients in:

Bath soap

Shampoo

Parent’s personal care products including perfume, deodorant, etc.

Laundry detergent & fabric softener. (For more information about detergent sensitivity and the difference between detergents and soaps see SolveEczema.org)

Food allergies (IgE mediated) are known to exacerbate eczema, but non-IgE mediated food sensitivities can also play a role in managing eczema. An elimination diet is the best way to identify potential culprits. (See this Elimination/Challenge Diet handout for more information on how to do this diet correctly.)

What About Gut Bacteria?

The “microbiome” refers to the population of bacteria that live in our gut. They play an important role in mediating the immune response, especially in regards to allergies and eczema.

Once thought to only influence the bowel, we’re learning about how important it is to establish a healthy population of gut bacteria early in life.

Gut bacterial balance affects many different areas of health, but one of the most important to consider is the establishment of healthy gut bacterial balance during infancy.

Several recent studies (such as this one) have found that children with eczema have a very different population of gut bacteria than those who don’t. And, this study found that infants with “low microbial diversity” at 1 month of age were more likely to develop eczema. So, what influences the establishment of gut bacteria?

Vaginal vs. C-section birth: Babies born to mothers via c-section do not get the mouthful of healthy bacteria that those born vaginally receive. Several studies have found increased risk of asthma, allergies and eczema, most of which are summarized in this good article.

Antibiotic use

Diet – Breastmilk is rich in probiotics and the skin-to-skin contact with Mom may also serve as a source of probiotic exposure. An infant’s diet (once eating solid food) can also influence the population of bacteria, especially if it’s high in sugar and simple carbohydrates. This is one reason why I’m in favour of doing away with the white cereal recommendation as a first food.

How to Treat Eczema

1. Start by “cleaning house”. Get rid of any personal care products that may be irritating. A quick stroll through the health food store or section at your grocery store and you will reveal a multitude of choices. Also choose unscented laundry detergents, such as Nature Clean or Down East (for those of us in Atlantic Canada).

2. Keep the moisture in. Add 1/2 tsp of coconut oil to the bath, and don’t bathe too often. Every other day is a good place to start.

3. Use a barrier cream (such as Live Clean’s non-petroleum jelly) if needed to protect the skin from moisture or the elements. Infants often flare up when they begin to drool, so a bit of this jelly will help.

4. If needed, try a non-medicated ointment such as Anointment’s “Soothing Skin Ointment”. It’s a great all -purpose salve to have in the house and is the go-to in our practice for eczema.

5. Establish and maintain a healthy population of gut bacteria. Talk to an ND about the best way to do this. Remember that most over-the-counter probiotic supplements do not have real, live bacteria strains – you will want to ask your physician to supply you with pharmaceutical-grade probiotics for the best results.

Share this:

Dr. Jenn, as she is known to her patients has been in practice since 2004 as a Naturopathic Doctor and Registered Dietitian. Her family-centered practice welcomes patients of all ages, and she especially enjoys working with women in all phases of their reproductive life, and children of all ages. With a strong emphasis on diet and nutrition, she guides her patients to their best health. She also enjoys writing about health and her blog can be found at Pillars of Health

3 Comments

My breastfed baby had really bad eczema all over his cheeks and legs. I cut out milk and soy from my diet and his skin cleared up within days…if I eat milk products his cheeks flare up within several hours. He is now 7 mos and, as long as I am careful with my diet, his skin is beautiful.

When my granddaughter started itching after she went on whole milk we switched to organic milk and it went away. We had gone to pure laundry detergent and pure casteel soaps for bathing but it continued until we got rid of the whole milk. She hasn’t had a problem with it since then. She is now 4.5 yrs. Before that she was itching until she drew blood sometimes…on her neck and upper leg areas.

Cart

About this site

Naturopathic Pediatrics is your source for natural health information you can trust. Every article is written and researched by licensed naturopathic physicians who are experts in the natural treatment of disease.

Vaccines Demystified

Check out the SHOP!

Legal & Affiliate Disclaimer

Information in this website is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Do not use the information in this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read on this web site. Information provided in this website DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and any doctor affiliated. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Naturopathic Pediatrics has affiliations with Rakuten Linkshare and ShareASale, who provide us affiliate links, Amazon, and EnviroKlenz. Naturopathic Pediatrics has remarketing agreements with Google, Facebook and Pinterest.

Affiliate disclaimer

Naturopathic Pediatrics has affiliations with Rakuten Linkshare and ShareASale who provide us affiliate links, as well as Amazon. Remember that if you purchase something from an affiliate link it won't cost you a penny more, but it will help to support this blog.
We only recommend products that are evidence-based, excellent quality and that we would use ourselves. So you know you'll be in good hands!

Mission, Purpose and Vision

Our mission at Naturopathic Pediatrics is to connect, engage, support and encourage parents and physicians. Naturopathic Pediatrics shares reliable information for patients on our public blog. All articles are written by licensed naturopathic physicians who specialize in pediatrics. (And most of us have kids of our own - so we know what it's like to be worried about our child!)

Naturopathic Pediatrics also shares provider-based content for purchase or via our new members-only site. All provider content is based strongly in the foundational principles of naturopathic medicine and in scientific research. All content is written by naturopathic physicians or research professionals and is vetted by our editor.

Legal disclaimer

Remember that everything on this website is intended for informational purposes only. The information on this site does not constitute medical advice. You should never, ever neglect to get medical care or try to self-diagnose or treat. All information on this site is intended to be used while under the supervision of a competent physician.